Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Review: Perfect Timing by Jill Mansell


When you meet the man of your dreams on girls night out, it's hardly perfect timing!
In this fresh and funny contemporary romance by bestselling author Jill Mansell, Poppy Dunbar's whole life gets turned upside down after a chance encounter with a handsome stranger...
Never a troublemaker, Poppy had always been content with the way things were supposed to be done—which included marrying predictable Rob McBride. But that was before she met Tom Kennedy the night before her wedding. Could she really be falling in love with a stranger?
Unable to forget Tom, or go through with the wedding, Poppy runs off to London. Her new life and colorful friends are anything but predictable. Misunderstandings, family secrets, and jealous quarrels ensue, but can Poppy stop running long enough to figure out what—or, rather, who—is in her heart?



Reading Perfect Timing, I kept thinking how come this book wasn't available on the American market sooner. It is a by numbers chick lit book that still sports enough surprises and good-natured humor to be distinguished from the overcrowded market. The best part of the book are the characters - Poppy being the girl next door everyone knows, Caspar being the hunky artistic type, and Tom... Well, I'm not giving that one away!

Although sometimes the book feels crowded with characters, I must mention Ms. Mansell's ability to create believable characters and put them in believable situations. Although the book lacks the social commentary of, for example, Candace Bushnell's books, or may not feel fresh at all times, it is still a great book to curl up with when it's raining cats and dogs outside and you want to be transported to a world with happy ends.

RATING: 4/5

9 comments:

jill mansell said...

Many thanks, Nikola - I'm so glad you enjoyed it. (Particularly since boys aren't my target-market!)
Best
Jill

brizmus said...

Sounds like the perfect book for right now. It's been so icky here for the past few days, and I've really been wishing that I had a book like that to help me through. :-)

Nikola said...

Jill, I'm glad I got a chance to read it! Thanks for being so nice and leaving a comment! And yes, boys *can* be your target audience! :)

Nikola said...

brizmus, yes, it's a great book, whether it's raining outside, or inside of you :)

Anonymous said...

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serendipity_viv said...

I am glad to hear you enjoyed it. I don't think I have ever read any Jill Mansell, though unsure why as I have seen them in the shops all the time. How lovely that Jill sent you a comment.

Sheila (Bookjourney) said...

I like your wording - crowded with characters.... I find books that have too many characters I start to lose my grip on the book. Too many story lines to follow can be exhausting!

Anonymous said...

I have heard so many wonderful things about Mansell. I'm glad to hear that you like it. I'm looking forward to jumping into a few of her books over my Christmas holiday.

allikat313 said...

This looks pretty cute. I might consider it!

Alli
http://funfiction411.blogspot.com/